Why are Beans so Good for You?

Are beans a regular part of your diet? If you’re interested in improving your health and well being, they should be. Our ancestors could teach us a thing or two about healthy eating, many cultures have included beans as a staple in their diets for thousands of years. So why are beans so good for you?

Among other things, beans help lower cholesterol and fight heart disease. According to Patti Bazel Weil R.D, diabetes nutrition educator at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and author of “Magic Beans,” eating a cup of cooked beans a day can lower your total cholesterol by up to 10% in 6 weeks. A study conducted at the University of Kentucky has shown that only three weeks of increased bean intake (3/4 cup of navy and pinto beans) lowered the men’s cholesterol by an average of 19%. This reduces the risk of heart attack by almost 40%.

Red beans are as beneficial as other foods known for their antioxidant properties such as as green tea, wine and berries. Besides, they load the body with protein and dietary fiber which helps to curb your appetite for fatty foods. Mexican red beans, Alava pinto or kidney beans also make a great source of natural minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and phosphorus.

According to research performed by Michigan State University, kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans and navy beans are the healthiest. It is recommended that you get about three cups of beans per week into your diet to achieve the best health results, but even as little as a cup per week can help you achieve impressive results!